Female PoS Operator Killed By Vehicle Allegedly Chased By FRSC Personnel In Abuja

A female Point of Sale (POS) operator was killed on Monday after she was knocked down by a commercial coaster bus near the Total filling station in the Berger area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Eyewitnesses said the bus was allegedly being chased by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) when the incident occurred.

According to a report by The Punch, a commuter who witnessed the incident, identified simply as Johnson, said the woman had arrived early for work and was crossing the road after buying food when the speeding bus struck her.

According to him, neither the coaster bus driver nor the FRSC officials stopped after the incident.

“The woman who was killed is a PoS operator in this area. She came very early, went to buy food, and was trying to cross the road near the Total filling station when FRSC officials were chasing a commercial coaster bus at high speed,” Johnson said.

“In the process, the coaster bus hit the woman and threw her to the other side of the road. The driver did not stop. The FRSC vehicle also did not stop; they continued the chase.”

Johnson said the victim lay on the road for several minutes with severe injuries and was confirmed dead before police officers from the Utako Police Division arrived at the scene.

He added that a bystander recorded the incident on video and later accompanied the police officers.

A newspaper vendor operating near the filling station corroborated the account, saying the incident happened in the morning around the NNPC area opposite the Total filling station.

“The FRSC vehicle and the coaster bus were moving at very high speed. The bus hit the woman and continued driving. None of the vehicles stopped. They did not wait at all,” he said.

Two mechanics working opposite the filling station also confirmed that the bus was allegedly being chased by FRSC officials when it knocked down the woman.

“Road Safety officials were pursuing a coaster bus that plies the Mararaba–Nyanya axis this morning. It was the chase that caused the driver to hit the woman. After the collision, both vehicles did not stop,” they said.

One of the mechanics recalled a similar incident in the same area on Saturday, noting that it did not result in casualties due to low pedestrian traffic.

“This is where the incident happened. FRSC officials often carry out such chases here. On Saturday, they chased a coaster bus in this same place, and it could have killed someone if it had been a busy day like today,” he said.

“This is not the first time. Maybe next time we see them here, we will chase them away.”

Reacting to the incident, the FCT Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr. Felix Theman, said the Corps had commenced an investigation to ascertain what happened.

He disclosed that all patrol teams operating within the Central Area, Zone 7 and adjoining locations had been recalled to determine whether any FRSC patrol vehicle was involved.

“I received a report similar to yours, and we are currently investigating the matter,” Theman said.

“I have recalled all patrol teams, particularly within the central area, Zone 7 and surrounding areas, to determine whether any of our patrol units were actually involved.

“Once our investigation establishes the facts, we will issue a press statement to that effect.”

Theman cautioned against drawing conclusions, noting that members of the public sometimes mistake non-patrol vehicles for FRSC patrol units.

“At the moment, we are still verifying the accuracy of the report. There are many instances where people assume they are being pursued, even when no patrol is being conducted,” he said.

“Until we confirm whether it was indeed a patrol team, it would be premature to say a patrol unit was involved. I also understand that this area is always very busy,” he added.